System for providing interaction between a broadcast automation system and a system for generating audience interaction with radio programming

1. A system for use with a broadcast station having a broadcast station operating system, the broadcast station operating system operating with a pre-existing broadcast station play schedule having a file at a file location and with web-based external data sources of an audience comprising a plurality of users, the system comprising: a hardware and a software link which together form an external link which interfaces securely with the pre-existing broadcast station operating system, and with the web-based external data sources to determine a single selection from a plurality of selections, which single selection is chosen based upon an event which includes a tabulation of inputs through the web-based external data sources and from the plurality of users, wherein the external link determines the existence of the file and places a placeholder at the file location in the broadcast station play schedule, monitors the file at a definable location generated by the broadcast station operating system, receives data from the broadcast system operating system as to when to start the event in the pre-existing broadcast station play schedule, and uses that data to create an interaction session between the broadcast station operating system, the web-based external data sources, and the external link to query the audience by means of a voting session which can be viewed and voted upon by the audience using a web-based application, to tabulate and store the resulting data and to thereby determine a selection based upon the interaction session, and then securely uses the Internet to export the selection determined by the software link based upon the interaction session into the position of the placeholder to cause the broadcast station operating system to play the selection on-air.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the broadcast station is a radio station and the web-based external data sources communicate with the broadcast radio station by means of the Internet.

3. A software system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the event comprises a voting session or an open selection event.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 which allows the event to determine a next selection in real-time.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the external data sources comprise an audience input system and the file location of the broadcast station play schedule comprises a plurality of audio files corresponding to a plurality of selections and a definable location for new log exports and the software link forwards the broadcast station play schedule to the audience input system which places a placeholder in the definable location and substitutes an audio file for the placeholder corresponding to a selection determined by the software link from the plurality of selections based on the input from the external data sources from the plurality of users.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the audience input system uses a voting session or an open selection event to determine a selection to replace the placeholder.

7. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the audience input system uses a voting session to rank a group of selections to determine an order to replace a group of placeholders with selections in the pre-existing broadcast station play schedule.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the interaction session is an open selection event during which the link remains open between the broadcast operating system and the external data sources.

9. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the interaction session is an open selection event during which the link remains open between the broadcast operating system and the external data sources for a selected amount of time defined from a start to an end command supplied by the external link.

10. A method of linking a broadcast station automation system through an external link with an external data source using the Internet, which provides real-time audience input from an audience comprising a plurality of users to a broadcast station automation system of programming that determines a pre-existing broadcast play schedule having a file at a file location comprising: providing an external server that securely interfaces between the broadcast station automation system of programming and a plurality of web-based external data sources; determining the existence of the file and the file location and placing a placeholder in the pre-existing broadcast play schedule at the file location, and further monitors the file; using the external link to receive data from the broadcast station automation system of programming and thereby to create an interaction session between the broadcast station automation system of programming, the web-based external data sources and the external link to start an event in the pre-existing broadcast play schedule by which the plurality of users vote on a plurality of selections and securely use the web-based external data sources to register their vote; tabulating the votes by means of the external link to determine a winning selection from the plurality of selections; and the external link substituting the winning selection for the placeholder in the pre-existing broadcast play schedule whereby the audience can participate in the determination of the winning selection to be played in the pre-existing broadcast play schedule.

11. A method of linking a broadcast station automation system and an external data source using the Internet as set forth in claim 10 wherein the broadcast station is a radio station.

12. A method of linking a broadcast station automation system and an external data source using the Internet as set forth in claim 10 wherein the audience input comprises a voting session or an open selection event.

13. A method of linking a broadcast station automation system and an external data source using the Internet as set forth in claim 10 which allows the audience input to determine a next selection in real-time.

14. A method of linking a broadcast station automation system and an external data source using the Internet as set forth in claim 13 wherein the external data source communicates with the broadcast station automation system by means of the Internet.

15. A method of linking a broadcast station automation system and an external data source using the Internet as set forth in claim 14 wherein the external data sources comprise an audience input system and the file location of the broadcast station play schedule includes a definable location for new log exports and the software link forwards the play schedule to the audience input system which places a placeholder in the definable location.

16. A method of linking a broadcast station automation system and an external data source using the Internet as set forth in claim 15 wherein the audience input system uses a voting session for an open selection event to determine a selection to replace the placeholder.

17. A method of linking a broadcast station automation system and an external data source using the Internet as set forth in claim 16 wherein the software system communicates with the audience input system via the Internet.

18. A method of providing real-time input by means of an external link from a plurality of web-based external sources to a broadcast radio station automation system including an internal server having a plurality of files and the automation system executing a pre-existing broadcast station play schedule having a pre-programmed playlist having a file at a definable file location comprising: providing a server that securely interfaces using the Internet between the broadcast automation system and the web-based external data sources; using the external link to determine the existence of the file, and the file location and to place a placeholder in the pre-programmed playlist at the file location and to further monitor the file; using the external link to receive data from the broadcast radio station automation system and thereby to create an interaction session between the broadcast radio station automation system, the web-based external data sources and the external link, and to start an event in the pre-existing broadcast play schedule by which the plurality of users vote on a plurality of selections and securely use the web-based external data sources to define a real-time event that triggers the determination of a selection from the plurality of selections; using the external link to substitute the selection for the placeholder in the pre-programmed playlist whereby a real-time event determines the broadcast of a selection in a pre-programmed broadcast playlist.

19. A method of providing real-time input from an external source to a broadcast station automation radio system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the real-time event comprises a voting session or an open selection event.

20. A method of providing real-time input from an external source to a broadcast station radio automation system as set forth in claim 19 wherein the external data source is an audience input system and the broadcast radio station automation system includes audio files corresponding to a plurality of selections and a definable location for new log exports, and the software link forwards a play schedule to the audience input system which places a placeholder in the definable location and determines which of the audio files of the plurality of selections to play whereby the radio station automation system substitutes that audio file for the placeholder.

21. A hardware and software system which forms an external link which interfaces with a broadcast station operating system of a broadcast station and an external data source providing real-time input from a plurality of users using web-based external data sources to the broadcast station operating system, the broadcast station operating system including an internal server having a pre-programmed playlist including a file at a file location, the system comprising: an external server that securely interfaces using the Internet between the broadcast station operating system and the web-based external data sources and includes the external link to determine the existence of the file and the file location and to place a placeholder in the pre-programmed playlist at the file location and to monitor the file and to receive data from the broadcast station operating system and thereby to create an interaction session between the broadcast station operating system, the web-based external data sources, and the external link, and to start a real-time event by which the plurality of users vote on a plurality of selections and securely use the web-based external data sources to define the real-time event that triggers the determination of a selection from the plurality of selections; and the external link substituting the selection from a plurality of selections whereby the external system triggers the broadcast operating system to substitute the selection for the placeholder in the pre-programmed playlist and whereby a real-time event determines the broadcast of a selection in a pre-programmed broadcast playlist.

22. A hardware and software link which forms an external link which interfaces with a broadcast station operating system of a broadcast station and web-based external data sources of a plurality of users comprising a broadcast radio audience, to improve a play schedule by: the broadcast station operating system operating with a pre-existing broadcast station play schedule having a file at a definable location, and wherein the hardware and software link creates an interaction session between the broadcast station operating system, the web-based external data sources, and the external link, and the external link securely interfacing with a plurality of web-based external data sources through the interaction session to determine a winning selection from a plurality of selections which is chosen based upon an event which includes a tabulation of inputs by the external link and received through the web-based external data sources, wherein the hardware and software link has a first component which monitors the definable location in the broadcast station play schedule and which is generated by the broadcast station operating system and the software link places a placeholder at the definable location, a second component which receives data from the broadcast station operating system, a third component which implements the ability of the software link to use a web-based voting session, and a fourth component which monitors the definable location and defines an open selection event to query an audience comprising a plurality of users and then to determine the winning selection and to export the selection to replace the placeholder in the definable location in the broadcast station play schedule to cause the broadcast station operating system to play the winning selection on-air.